Musings from the Sunday School Teacher, Math Teacher, and Republican who now lives in upstate South Carolina. Psalm 19:14 should be the bloggers' verse: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

I read the following quote recently from the book Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. The context is a discussion of the disciple Peter.

"Character, of course, is absolutely critical in leadership. America's current moral decline is directly linked to the fact that we have elected, appointed, and hired too many leaders who have no character. In recent years, some have tried to argue that character doesn't really matter in leadership; what a man does in his private life supposedly should not be a factor in whether he is deemed fit for a public leadership role. That perspective is diametrically opposed to what the Bible teaches. Character does matter in leadership. It matters a lot.

"In fact, character is what makes leadership possible. People simply cannot respect or trust those who lack character. And if they do not respect a man, they will not follow him. Time and truth go hand in hand. Leaders without character eventually disappoint their followers and lose their confidence....

We may not know everything about Obama's character, but we know plenty. Consider the following attributes of a man—a leader—of character:

He speaks the truth consistently.

He takes a stand for what is right regardless of popular opinion.

He determines what is morally right, what is lawful, what is edifying and helpful to others—and then he does that, day in and day out.

He chooses friends and acquaintances who will make him a better man.

He meets the needs of his family and others who rely upon him.

Barack Obama is no way meets these descriptions of character. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth. His moral compass on the issues of our day is generally wrong, and no more stable than the wind. His public positions have changed and will change based upon circumstances.

Do you want this kind of man as the next president?

Keep in mind that these descriptions of character apply to candidates for other offices, too. Consider this when you have to decide for Hoogendyk or Levin, for Coleman or Franken, or for one of the two guys running for county commissioner.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

...the AP Fact Checkers don't even agree with you...and you're a liberal! Three hours after the Obama infomercial (which I did not deem important enough to watch), there appears this article, the beginning of which if reprinted below:

WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office.

Obama's assertion that "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond" the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by "eliminating programs that don't work" masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are -- beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

A sampling of what voters heard in the ad, and what he didn't tell them:

THE SPIN: "That's why my health care plan includes improving information technology, requires coverage for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and lowers health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year."

THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 billion over five years on electronic medical records and by improving access to proven disease management programs, among other steps, consumers will end up saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to suggest cost reductions in national health care spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it's not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on to consumers in the form of lower premiums.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Although the verses quoted below describe what is going on in a church, I think they also accurately describe and advise about the political situation in our present day.

Romans 16:17-18:

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

This nugget comes from The Fox Forum and was authored by Greg Gutfeld. The entire article was good, but this piece near the end deals nicely with the "redistribution" issue:

I mean, wasn’t the credit mess nothing more than an act of wealth redistribution? Banks were encouraged to give loans to high-risk folks to buy homes they couldn’t afford. It’s a free lunch that, in the end, we’re all now paying for.

And this is what happens when you decide to rearrange a pie instead of growing it. What you get is sticky fingers, instead of a full stomach.

Part of it has to be that they perceive (correctly) that Obama will be much friendlier toward the U.N. than President Bush has been. This alone is a good reason not to be voting for Obama.

Another part of it must be that they perceive (probably correctly) that Obama will not do as much as McCain to strengthen America's position militarily in the world. This is also a good reason not to be voting for Obama.

What does it tell you, that America's enemies want Obama to win? If our enemies want Obama, why should we?

The election next week could put ungodly leaders in control of our country. The stock market is erratic...on a good day. Winter is coming. Someone you know is sick, or has lost a job—maybe it's you.

There is certainly plenty of discouraging stuff out there. But even in the midst of discouragement, there is a God Who loves His children and cares for them and blesses them.

Consider these verses:

Psalm 23:4-5

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Matthew 6:25-34

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

This hymn by Ira Stanphill reminds us of the truth that tomorrow is not for us to worry about; God Himself will help us through tomorrow if we put our trust in Him.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray.I don’t worry over the future, Fore I know what Jesus said;And today I’ll walk beside Him, For He knows what is a head.

Many things about tomorrowI don’t seem to understandBut I know who holds tomorrowAnd I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter As the golden stairs I climb;Every burden’s getting lighter, Every cloud is silver lined.There the sun is always shining, There no tear will dim the eye,At the ending of the rainbow. Where the mountains touch the sky,

Many things about tomorrowI don’t seem to understandBut I know who holds tomorrowAnd I know who holds my hand.

I don’t know about tomorrow, It may bring me poverty;But the one who feeds the sparrow Is the one who stands by me.And the path that is my portion May be through the flame or flood;But His presence goes before me And I’m covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrowI don’t seem to understandBut I know who holds tomorrowAnd I know who holds my hand.

Friday, October 24, 2008

As mentioned two days ago, Pillsbury will be closing its doors at the end of the semester. This news story, with video, comes from a Rochester, MN, television station. It does a remarkably objective yet sympathetic job reporting this.

Barack Hussein Obama. He does not want to say much about his upbringing, particularly where religion is concerned. He attended a church where America was cursed and the preacher spouted venom about our country's political system.

Should Christians be concerned? Absolutely. No matter what he says, he is not like them.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Governor Jennifer Granholm is please to report that for the first time in months, Michigan no longer leads the country in unemployment! We are now only 49th, with luckless Rhode Island (probably temporarily) taking over the 50th spot. Our unemployment rate is 8.7%, well behind Rhode Island's rate of 8.8%.

If you like with Jennifer Granholm has done with Michigan, you'll love what Barack Obama will do with America!

It came to my attention today that Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN, will be closing its doors for good on 12/31/08. It is always sad to hear that a Bible-based ministry is closing its doors, and particularly so in this case, as I used to work at PBBC. There are a lot of fine people on the faculty and staff there whose lives will be disrupted as a result, and, of course, the students will be placed in a situation where they do not wish to be.

God is always good, and He is in control. Our prayers must be with the folks at PBBC, that God's will be done in their lives, and that His grace encourage and strengthen them through this time.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I encountered the following on the internet today. The statement below (which can be found here; the facts about this group are here) is offered by....

The 21st-Century Science Coalition is a group of Texas scientists who have come together for a common purpose: to ensure that Texas students get a sound science education that reflects the most current scientific knowledge and is based on established scientific data. We simply believe that students deserve the best science education in their Texas classrooms.

Good science education is certainly desirable, but it is not possible apart from objectivity, observations, solid reasoning, and facts. This group is actually quite concerned that those in a position to impact state science curriculum standards in Texas will allow teachers to discuss intelligent design and creation, thus decreasing the absolute stranglehold evolution has on the public education establishment in this country. Evolution is not a fact. It has never been observed; it is not observed today. I would like to critique their statement below.

Scientists for a Responsible Curriculum in Texas Public Schools

A strong science curriculum is an essential part of a 21st-century education and should be based on established peer-reviewed empirical research. In 2008-09 the State Board of Education is revising the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards for the sciences.

Scientifically sound curriculum standards must:

• acknowledge that instruction on evolution is vital to understanding all the biological sciences; It is not vital. Some of us got great understanding of the biological sciences while receiving a creation-based education. Really.

• make clear that evolution is an easily observable phenomenon that has been documented beyond any reasonable doubt; It has never been observed, much less easily. It is not documented, much less beyond a reasonable doubt.

• be based on the latest, peer-reviewed scholarship;

• encourage valid critical thinking and scientific reasoning by leaving out all references to “strengths and weaknesses,” which politicians have used to introduce supernatural explanations into science courses; and What?!? By choking out a discussion of strengths and weaknesses, critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills are strengthened?!? What sort of ridiculous reasoning is this?

• recognize that all students are best served when matters of faith are left to families and houses of worship. OK. Better there than in public schools, but public schools still need to reinforce the basic tenets of religion and morality in society.

We, therefore, call on the Texas State Board of Education to approve science curriculum standards that prepare Texas students to succeed in the 21st century. I do, too. I just want to see something different than this group wants to see.

Years ago, I saw a number of lists that told what few books certain famous people would take with them, if they were going to be deserted on an island somewhere for a period of time.

I found this fascinating, and recently gave some thought to the topic. I think I would choose the following five books:

1. Bible, King James Version (or if these ad hoc rules allowed one of those multi-version Bibles with the parallel columns, I'd take one of those).

2. Strong's Concordance—the old-fashioned kind that weighs 20 pounds or so. (Presumably the rules would require books in book form, not digitized/electronic. If you are on a desert island, internet/computer access is probably out of the question anyway.)

3. A hymnal. I'm not certain which one, since there are several good ones out there; but none of them contain every hymn I like. But I'd take one. If the island is deserted, no one will care how well I sing, so that issue is dead.

4. Rand McNally's Road Atlas of the United States, most recent edition. Because maps are fascinating.

5. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. If you've read it, you will appreciate this selection.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

All of us are sinners. All of us deserve, and were destined for, hell. We are unable to do anything about this of our own power.

Jesus Christ, son of God and member of the Trinity, came to earth, and died a sinless death on the cross to pay the punishment for the sins of all of us. He was buried and rose again the third day.

This substitutionary atonement for sins enables each of us to choose to repent of our sins and to put our faith in Him for salvation. In so doing, we can be "born again," as Nicodemus learned in John 3.

This week's hymn also reminds us of the story of Nicodemus and our need to be "born again." The Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. Have you been born again?

Ye Must Be Born Again

A ruler once came to Jesus by nightTo ask Him the way of salvation and light;The Master made answer in words true and plain,“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

“Ye must be born again,Ye must be born again,I verily, verily, say unto thee,Ye must be born again.”

Ye children of men, attend to the Word,So solemnly uttered by Jesus the Lord;And let not this message to you be in vain,“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

O ye who would enter that glorious rest,And sing with the ransomed the song of the blest,The life everlasting if ye would obtain,“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

A dear one in Heaven thy heart yearns to see,At the beautiful gate may be watching for thee,Then list to the note of this solemn refrain,“Ye must be born again.”

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

This quote comes from Jeff Myers of Passing the Baton International (passingthebaton.org) in an e-mail I received today:

Just because God's people are confused about how to build His kingdom does not mean that God's enemies are confused about how to destroy it. The battle for the hearts and minds of the next generation is still raging, and it doesn't stop just because we've been lulled into complacency and distracted into irrelevance.

Truth still needs to be defended. Injustice must still be remedied. Evil must still be opposed.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Barack Obama told a tax-burdened plumber over the weekend that his economic philosophy is to "spread the wealth around" -- a comment that may only draw fire from riled-up John McCain supporters who have taken to calling Obama a "socialist" at the Republican's rallies.

Obama made the remark, caught on camera, after fielding some tough questions from the plumber Sunday in Ohio, where the Democratic candidate canvassed neighborhoods and encouraged residents to vote early.

"Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" the plumber asked, complaining that he was being taxed "more and more for fulfilling the American dream."

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Good for everybody?!?! I think this plumber is on to something! The essence of Obama-nomics is that those with money will be taxed, to pay for programs that we can't afford and can't even start to justify, to give money to those unwilling to work for it like the majority of us do. This is, for all practical purposes, socialism.

And please notice: Obama did not deny that the plumber would be taxed more!!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

This single stanza by Oliver Cooke provides us with a great comfort, an echo of Revelation 7:17: "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

I Know A Fount

I know a fount where sins are washed away,I know a place where night is turned to day;Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see;There's a wonder working pow'r in the blood of Calvary.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Penn State 48, Wisconsin 7. The Nittany Lions travel to Madison, where few teams ever win, and absolutely crush the Badgers. It was beautiful. Truly beautiful. The only thing more beautiful would be to add to the misery of....

Toledo 13, Michigan 10. I may live in their state, but I can't stand the Wolverines football team. Congratulations to that little MAC school that was 1-4 and couldn't hold anybody under, like, 34 points a game until today....

Ohio State 16, Purdue 3. I mention this to please my wife.

Florida 51, LSU 21. We can only pray that this will keep LSU from sneaking into the BCS title game again with an eventual 8-4 record.

Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 23. Mizzou loses at home after winning at Nebraska by 35 last week. Incredible. PSU moves up another couple notches in the standings!

Texas 45, Oklahoma 35. Another top 5 team loses. And another one wins.

Prognostication: With PSU at #6 and winning, and with three of the top five teams losing, they should be at worst #3 in the polls tomorrow. I predict the top three teams will be Texas, PSU, and Alabama (idle today). As they say at McDonald's, I'm lovin it!

This article from Real Clear Politics by Kimberley Strassel is an amusing look at what the Great One expects to accomplish as president. Intended as humor, and successful...but the reality might end up being a very dark sort of humor. Very, very dark. Here are some excerpts:

And now, America, we introduce the Great Obama! The world's most gifted political magician! A thing of wonder. A thing of awe. Just watch him defy politics, economics, even gravity! (And hold your applause until the end, please.)

To kick off our show tonight, Mr. Obama will give 95% of American working families a tax cut, even though 40% of Americans today don't pay income taxes! How can our star enact such mathemagic? How can he "cut" zero? Abracadabra! It's called a "refundable tax credit." It involves the federal government taking money from those who do pay taxes, and writing checks to those who don't. Yes, yes, in the real world this is known as "welfare," but please try not to ruin the show.

For his next trick, the Great Obama will jumpstart the economy, and he'll do it by raising taxes on the very businesses that are today adrift in a financial tsunami! That will include all those among the top 1% of taxpayers who are in fact small-business owners, and the nation's biggest employers who currently pay some of the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world. Mr. Obama will, with a flick of his fingers, show them how to create more jobs with less money. It's simple, really. He has a wand.

...

Did someone in the audience just shout "Sarbanes Oxley?" Usher, can you remove that man? Thank you. Mr. Obama will now demonstrate how he gives Americans the "choice" of a "voluntary" government health plan, designed in such a way as to crowd out the private market and eliminate all other choice! Don't worry people: You won't have to join, until you do. Mr. Obama will follow this with a demonstration of how his plan will differ from our failing Medicare program. Oops, sorry, folks. The Great Obama just reminded me it is time for an intermission. Maybe we'll get to that marvel later.

...

And for tonight's finale, the Great Obama will uphold America's "moral" obligation to "stop genocide" by abandoning Iraq! While teleported to the region, he will simultaneously convince Iranian leaders to peacefully abandon their nuclear pursuits (even as he does not sit down with them), fix Afghanistan with a strategy that does not resemble the Iraqi surge, and (drumroll!) pull Osama bin Laden out of his hat!

Tada!

You can clap now. (Applause. Cheers.) We'd like to thank a few people in the audience. Namely, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who has so admirably restrained himself from running up on stage to debunk any of these illusions and spoil everyone's fun.

This photo was taken from a news story...note that the neighborhood begs "with all [their] hearts" that those women visiting the neighborhood be modest. While this would never fly in America due to the presumed right of wearing-what-you-want, there is something to be noted here: Folks who value modesty enough to advertise it.

Some will belittle their religious beliefs, or the practice thereof; others will scorn what these folks believe. But if nothing else, they are to be commended for publicly stating what they believe: That they want women to dress modestly. That's a good thing.

If you read this blog regularly, you understand not to take this literally. I found this list on a facebook page. There were more, but here are some highlights:

Why I'm voting Democrat:

I'm voting Democrat because English has no place being the official language in America.

I'm voting Democrat because I'd rather pay $4 for a gallon of gas than allow drilling for oil off the coasts of America.

I'm voting Democrat because I think the government will do a better job of spending my money than I could.

I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Afghanistan and Iraq, I know the Islamic terrorists will stop trying to kill us because they'll think we're a good and decent country.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe people who can't tell us if it will rain in two or three days, can now tell us the polar ice caps will disappear in ten years if I don't start riding a bicycle, build a windmill or inflate my tires to proper levels.

I'm voting Democrat because it's alright to kill millions of babies as long as we keep violent, convicted murderers on death row alive.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe businesses in America should not be allowed to make profits. Businesses should just break even and give the rest to the government so politicians and bureaucrats can redistribute the money the way they think it should be redistributed.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe guns, and not the people misusing them, are the cause of crimes and killings.

I'm voting Democrat because when someone with a weapon threatens my family or me, I know the government can respond faster through a call to 911 than I can with a gun in my hand.

I'm voting Democrat because oil companies' 5% profit on a gallon of gas are obscene, but government taxes of 18% on the same gallon of gas are just fine.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four elitist liberals should rewrite the Constitution every few months to suit some fringe element that could never get their agenda past voters.

I'm voting Democrat because illegal aliens are not criminals, are not sucking up resources through government aid, hospital services, education, or social services, but are just people trying to make a better life by coming to America illegally. We can't blame them for that, can we?

I'm voting Democrat because Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, and Jesse Jackson will end racism once and for all.

I'm voting Democrat because Christians in the Republican Party are intolerant, theocratic warmongers and atheists like William Ayers have never hurt anybody.

I'm voting Democrat so that no family member of mine will die in a hospital bed. They will still be waiting in line for Obama's socialized medicine, so they will never actually make it into a hospital bed.

I'm voting Democrat because I like eminent domain and big business and government kicking me out of my home and taking my land.

I'm voting Democrat because everyone knows that raising taxes at the top won't hurt people at the bottom.

I'm voting Democrat because skin color and good oratory skills are more important than judgment and experience.

I'm voting Democrat because protecting barren wasteland is more important than energy indepedence.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that Cuba, Russia, and China should be on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that everyone is essentially good -- even people like Ahmadinejad who call for the destruction of Israel. He just needs a little understanding.

I'm voting Democrat because we should all be forced to drive ugly cars with the horsepower of a riding lawnmower.

I am voting Democrat because I believe in change; although I don't know WHAT the change will be, or HOW it will happen, AND I am pretty sure that I won't WANT to actually change anything I do, but still....I believe in change.

I'm voting Democrat because the government knows how to raise children better than parents do.

I'm voting Democrat because I want the rich to work harder, give me their money, and pay for my services so I don't have to.

I'm voting Democrat because I don't give to charity or do volunteer work and then I complain about how selfish everyone else is.

I'm voting Democrat because I've seen welfare help so many poor people become self-sufficient and upwardly mobile.

I'm voting Democrat because life just isn't fair and I deserve what other people have without working for it.

I'm voting Democrat because I like how democrats can cause financial crises' like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and have the temerity to blame them on Republicans.

I'm voting Democrat because Obama was endorsed by Hamas and terrorists' endorsements are a must to achieve world peace.

Im voting democrat because it's the COOL thing to do. I'm hip and in the majority.

Friday, October 10, 2008

The following article (which can be found here) was written by my state senator, Tom George, who is also a medical doctor. It gives some of the many good reasons to vote NO on Prop. 2, which will be on Michigan's ballot this November. On top of this, there are moral issues to consider, which George doesn't even get to...

Vote no on Proposal 2: It shuts door on regulation BY STATE SEN. TOM GEORGE • OCTOBER 1, 2008

Michigan voters should be aware that Proposal 2, the embryonic stem cell ballot proposal, is deceptive. Supporters argue that its approval is necessary in order for ethical embryonic stem cell research to occur, when in fact this research is already taking place in Michigan under current law. What the proposal really does is create an unprecedented exemption for this new industry from future oversight.

A careful reading of the proposal reveals that, if adopted, it would amend the state Constitution so that the Legislature would be forbidden to design laws that "prevent, restrict, obstruct or discourage any stem cell research ... or create disincentives for any person to engage in or otherwise associate with such research."

No other industry or enterprise enjoys such a blanket exemption in our Constitution. Though the Legislature daily debates the need for and extent of such regulations, there is no debate that at least some oversight of industry, research and medical practice is needed to protect the welfare of the public.

The field of organ transplantation provides a good example. Michigan law attempts to increase the pool of potential donors by allowing individuals to give consent for organ donation when applying for a driver's license. But Michigan law also "restricts" transplantation by outlawing the sale of organs, and preventing proxy consent for live kidney donations by children under the age of 14 and incompetent adults.

State law could also be said to "discourage" transplantation because harvesting of organs is restricted to licensed hospitals by licensed personnel, organs are required to be tested for the HIV virus, and the list of potential donors kept by the Secretary of State is exempt from the state's Freedom of Information Act. Moreover, earlier this year, Michigan's organ donation laws were updated to reflect changing trends in the field of transplantation and have since been used as a model by at least one other state.

In similar fashion, the state routinely updates laws regulating hospitals, acupuncturists, restaurants, barbers and countless other professions in order to ensure the public's safety. Next year, recognizing a new need, the state will require county health departments to begin inspecting tattoo parlors.

We cannot know today all the challenges or benefits embryonic stem cell research might hold for the future. Buying and selling of human eggs, mixing of human and animal DNA, viral contamination of stem cell cultures, the need to maintain patient records and confidentiality, licensing of private stem cell clinics or clinicians, or any number of other commercial or ethical issues might require state oversight.

It would be inadvisable to grant any new industry a constitutional exemption from state laws. It would be especially hazardous to grant such an exemption to embryonic stem cell research, not knowing what challenges the future will bring. Michigan voters should vote no on Proposal 2.

STATE SEN. TOM GEORGE, MD, is a Kalamazoo anesthesiologist and chairman of the Senate Health Policy Committee.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

There has been a lot of talk about whether a woman (e.g., Sarah Palin) can biblically be, say, vice-president or president of the United States. As a broader question, according to the Bible, what positions can women fill in the political and social spheres?

This article by Dr. Kevin Bauder of Central Baptist Theological Seminary summarizes the position that a woman can biblically hold political office. This is a summary, and there are certainly many other aspects of the issue that could be discussed here...but it is a good summary. Others will, in good and sincere conscience, disagree; but I think Bauder speaks well to this issue.

With three liberal justices now ages 89, 75, and 69, it is nearly certain that the next president will have an opportunity to shape the high court for the better; Justices Stevens, Ginsburg, and Souter have all been consistently liberal and unconstitutional in their judgments. To elect Obama is to virtually guarantee that any of them will be replaced with someone just as bad...or worse! Jennifer Granholm fits into that category.

Do you want to see Roe v. Wade overturned? Do you want to see the Court affirm private property rights? Don't vote for Obama!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

As if referring to President FDR's famous 1929 TV speech on the stock market crash wasn't evidence enough of his lack of knowledge of social studies (In case you didn't know, FDR wasn't yet president, nor was television yet invented, in 1929)...he misspoke badly about the Constitution's description of the duties of the vice-president during last week's vice-presidential debate.

In this article, you can read what both Biden and Palin had to say about the position. The Constitution says this:

“The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.”

Here is Biden's lengthy quote:

"Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history. The idea he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that's the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.

And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there's a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.

The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive, and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous."

And here is Sarah Palin's more intelligent comment on the matter:

"Of course, we know what a vice president does. And that's not only to preside over the Senate and [I] will take that position very seriously also. I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chooses to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are."

And did anyone notice that the media doesn't notice Biden's rather frequent mistakes?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

This piece comes from the Associated Press, and can be found here. Here are excerpts...the ones that irritate me...

EATON RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Monday signed into law a package that will require more electricity to come from renewable sources, raise residential rates, restrict competition among power companies and encourage energy efficiency.

Granholm held two energy bill-signing ceremonies, one in Detroit and one in Eaton Rapids southwest of Lansing. She said the new measures will create new renewable energy jobs.

She had two ceremonies to celebrate the raising of my electric rates?!?

Residential energy rates are expected to rise now that the measures are law. The state's largest utility, DTE Energy, estimated a typical resident could pay an extra $12 to $15 a month for electricity within five years. Consumers Energy, the second-biggest utility, estimated an average residents may pay $6 to $7.50 more.

And, no, the fact that Consumers serves the Kalamazoo area does not give me any comfort.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Virginia state teachers' union has announced that Tuesday would be an "Obama Blue Day"—teachers were to wear blue-colored shirts to school in order to show unity and support for their preferred candidate.

The Virginia Education Association sent out an e-mail on 9/25 with these instructions. However, it said that this was not intended to encourage teachers to use their classrooms for partisan political purposes, although they could use the occasion to encourage their 18-year-old students to register to vote.

I suspect that some of these teachers, however, are Republicans, and are rip-roaring mad that their union, which sucks away their money like so many mosquitoes, has the audacity to slap them in the face like this. I hope they wear red on that day.

This is yet another example of a great problem of public education: It's OK to say or do what you want—so long as it is liberal, or godless. Had conservatives or Christians done something similar (How about a "Wear green for God" day??), would there be outrage?

It was not a good week on the political front: Congress passed, and the president unwisely signed, a fat bailout bill that will cost me a lot of money over the next however-many years; McCain signed off on the same; and the McCain campaign (after spending a lot of money over the past few months on ho-hum commercials) announced that they are pulling resources out of Michigan. But...

Incidentally, here's an article I read where economists generally agree, left and right alike: The bailout plan is not good policy.

In this foxnews.com article, based on an interview earlier in the day, we got the good news that somebody in the McCain campaign—Sarah and Todd Palin—wants to campaign here! Here is a portion of the article:

Sarah Palin criticized John McCain's decision to pull campaign resources out of Michigan in an interview with FOX News on Friday, saying she and her husband Todd would "be happy" to campaign in the economically distraught battleground state.

The Republican vice presidential nominee, on the heels of her debate with Joe Biden, also took a second stab at questions that seemed to trip her up during recent interviews, declaring that she looks "forward to speaking to the media more and more every day."

Palin said the decision to pull out of Michigan, which was announced Thursday, was "not a surprise" to her since polls show McCain slipping in the state.

But Palin said that when she read the news, she "fired off a quick e-mail and said, 'Oh come on, do we have to?'"

"Todd and I, we'd be happy to get to Michigan ...We'd be so happy to speak to the people there in Michigan who are hurting," she said. "Whatever Todd and I can do in realizing what their challenges in that state are .... I wanna get back to Michigan and I want to try."

It's unclear whether the McCain campaign will heed Palin's request. McCain aides said on a conference call Thursday that Michigan had always been the weakest of the toss-up states for them, and that they are still competing in several other battlegrounds like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and moving resources into high-stakes states like Florida.

Friday, October 3, 2008

I stumbled upon this one-page summary by Dave Ramsey about how the economic "crisis" should have been dealt with. It is readable and understandable...and it makes a ton more sense than the legislation passed today.

I am thoroughly disgusted by the actions of Congress the past three days. I am displeased with both the president and my own republican congressman for their firm support of a bad idea that will cost me, my family, my loved ones, and pretty much all taxpayers a lot of money to solve a "crisis" that, quite frankly, was avoidable...or at least could have been dealt with more sensibly.

Hopefully these suggestions will someday be incorporated into our financial system.

Sarah Palin did indeed do a fine job last evening in the VP debate! I'd far rather have her than her opponent.

JOE BIDEN’S 14 LIES TONIGHT

1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY.

2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.

4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage.

5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.

6. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.

7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false.

8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.

9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.

10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.

11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right.

12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.

13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.”

14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tomorrow evening's vice-presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden will be moderated by Gwen Ifill of PBS.

PBS, of course, is a notoriously left-leaning network. Ifill is soon to come out with a new book that is pro-Obama. Ifill was also cited in complaints last month that after Palin's acceptance speech at the RNC, she had looks described as "dismissive" and "disgust" (this, according to the PBS ombudsman).

NOTE: This means that Gwen Ifill has a financial stake in Obama winning the election.

The mainstream media desparately wants Obama to win and McCain (and Palin, especially) to fail. We should not expect evenhandedness tomorrow evening. Sarah Palin will be up against an experienced senator in a hostile environment.